King Charles to be first reigning English monarch in 500 years to pray publicly with pope

Monarch will join Pope Leo XIV at an ecumenical service in Sistine Chapel during visit to the Vatican next month

King Charles will become the first reigning English monarch since Henry VIII split from Rome in 1534 to pray publicly with a pope during his state visit to the Holy See next week.

The king will join Pope Leo XIV at an ecumenical service in the Sistine Chapel during his visit with the queen to the Vatican on 22-23 October, a gesture regarded as a significant moment" in relations between the Catholic church and the Church of England, of which Charles is supreme governor.